Excerpted from US SAILING's Class Management
Handbook
SEVENTEEN FLEET BUILDING IDEAS
By John Burnham
- Big brothers and sisters are an obvious way to get the top dogs talking with the rest of the fleet, particularly novices. The Thistle class appoints big brothers at major regattas where, if it’s your first time away from your home fleet, you’ll appreciate having someone there to review your problems after races.
2. A top five/bottom five plan in a Charleston Laser fleet assigns the best finishers after the first day’s racing to talk with the last five finishers the next morning, and help them get their boats rigged for the day’s conditions.
3. A first-place/last-place team-scoring system can create an extra opportunity to share knowledge. The gist of this is that after the first race of a series, the top and bottom finishers are assigned to a team, which will be scored jointly for the second race. Another team is the second and second-to-last finishers, and so on. Whichever team scores best for the second race wins a prize. New team assignments are made based on the second race’s results. With a computer scoring system, this is a piece of cake.
4. Running short races in an evening series can, according to one Laser fleet, mix the leaders with the tailenders. If the fleet sets a goal of running as many races as possible before dark, those who finish first can sail downwind and give suggestions to the tailenders on the second reach or coming up the final beat.
5. The post-race roast was suggested by Ian Bruce as a great way to have fun and hear how the winners did their thing. You have the top three skippers from each day stand up in front of the fleet and describe how they succeeded. They are required to field any and all questions, including those not entirely pertinent to the day’s racing.
6. When it comes to establishing contact between the fleet leaders and the rank and file, the fleet captain usually does far more than his or her share. One good idea we heard was to have a committee of fleet captains rather than a single captain. That way, the work can be shared, more people can be reached, and the fleet captain isn’t as likely to burn out in a hurry.
7. Running seminars, with the best sailors in the fleet sharing their expertise, is another good way to help the less experienced. An E22 class member reported on a rules seminar run by her class, complete with mock protests. Another described a race management seminar combined with a pre-season session on practice starts.
8. One idea we liked for the Optimist class was a club day on which kids took the parents sailing. This impressed the parents more than could have been possible had they simply been watching from the dock. It was also a valuable lesson. Thereafter, the parents were much more supportive and apt to recognize the achievements of their children rather than constantly suggesting what more they had to achieve.
9. Sailing World ran a story on the J/24 potluck fleet championships in February 1987. The program, in Newport, RI, shows how emphasizing the right thing can make all the difference. This evening series has over 40 boats registered now, and usually draws 27 or 28 boats per night. Races are short, so the same guys don’t always win. After the racing comes the main event: the potluck dinner, combined with winner’s roast. This dinner series now has people driving down from Boston for an enjoyable meal with a good appetite-builder beforehand.
10. Another way of improving participation in some classes is by emphasizing family racing. The Flying Scots hold a husband/wife championship (SW, Nov. 1987). The Laser class told us about a parent/child event. And the J/22’s have prizes for family-crewed boats.
11. On the West Coast, team racing is one way to get more people comfortable with the idea of winning. The Santana 35s on San Francisco Bay hold a weekend of team racing every year, dividing the fleet in two. Half of the fleet comes home a winner!
12. Another example of success through “targeting” is the Laser Masters Division, the fastest growing segment of the class. For sailors over 35, racing is a good excuse to get back in shape, renew old acquaintances, and feel the excitement of going fast.
13. For novices, one Thistle fleet invented the champagne balloon chase. The object is to retrieve the most balloons. The lesson is one in steering and boathandling, which begins to come naturally as you chase a skittish balloon. The winner’s prize, of course, is a bottle of champagne, usually shared with the rest of the fleet.
14. I don’t remember who said this, but it sounds like a good idea, either at the fleet or class level: appoint a Chairman of Fun.
15. While you’re appointing fleet officers, get a Publicity Chairman. No matter what kind of events you run and no matter how you do your scoring, everyone likes to see familiar names in the local paper – especially their own.
16. When planning your fleet schedule, a good idea is to poll your fleet to see what kind of schedule they really want. According to a survey discussed at the meeting, 20- to 35-year-olds have less time nowadays than they used to. Many prefer a schedule that doesn’t require a commitment every Saturday.
17. One other thought about scheduling: The Thistle class suggests that your class schedule a Fleet Growth and Promotion Committee meeting for every major regatta. This works to include fleet people from all areas, spreading good ideas.
John
Burnham is editor of
Cruising World magazine.
This article was excerpted from Sailing World, July 1998.
To order your copy of the Class Management
Handbook,
visit
http://store.ussailing.org/viewItem.asp?ItemID=41001&UnitCde=1&Desc=Class
Management Handbook&Search=N.